Organizing a two-day gorilla trekking safari from Kigali Rwanda

A 2-day gorilla trekking safari from Kigali, Rwanda, is easy to plan and possible as it involves travelling from Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, to Volcanoes National Park, the only gorilla trekking destination in the country. Rwanda is one of the best gorilla trekking destinations in the world and on the African continent with 12 habituated gorilla families.  Volcanoes National Park, which is home to the mountain gorillas, is just 2 to 3 hours from Kigali City, and the short distance is one of the many reasons why many tourists prefer to track mountain gorillas from Rwanda, unlike the other two gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda and the DRC.

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Itinerary

The two-day gorilla trekking safari from Kigali, Rwanda, takes you from the capital city of Rwanda to Volcanoes National Park. A quick summary of the safari includes tourists travelling to Kigali, Rwanda, where you will be picked up by a tour guide. You will then proceed to be driven to Volcanoes National Park, the activity is gorilla tracking and 4x4 safari vehicles will be used for transport. Note that the safari starts and ends in Kigali Rwanda.

Detailed Itinerary

1. Day 1: Pick up from Volcanoes National Park to Kigali

Upon arrival in Kigali, Rwanda, you will be welcomed by a professional driver guide who will take you around Kigali city for a mini tour of the city. After driving through Kigali, you will proceed to drive to Volcanoes National Park which is located in the north eastern part of the country. The drive from Kigali to the park is about 2 to 3 hours, and when you get there, you will be provided with lunch, and you also get to relax as you prepare for the tracking exercise the next day.  Dinner and overnight stay at the accommodation facility.

• Day 2: Gorilla tracking and drive back to Kigali

After an early morning breakfast at the lodge, you will officially start off the morning with a drive to the park headquarters for a briefing about what to do and what to avoid during a gorilla trekking exercise in Volcanoes National Park. After the briefing, which is to be attended by all trekkers, you will be assigned to a gorilla family and then depart into the forests in search of the mountain gorillas. During the trek, you will be able to see other wildlife species including golden monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, baboons, and several bird species, among others.

After locating your assigned gorilla family, you have an hour with the gorillas after which you will return to the park headquarters for the awarding of the certificate. You will then drive back to Kigali for your flight or accommodation, depending on your preference, and this marks the end of the 2-day gorilla trekking safari from Kigali, Rwanda.

NB: Note that extra accommodation comes at an extra cost which is not part of the initial safari cost.

What to consider when organising a 2-day gorilla trek safari from Kigali, Rwanda.

When planning a 2-day gorilla trek from Kigali, Rwanda, you need to put a few things into consideration, and these have been listed below to help you with the organising process.

1. Gorilla permits booking and purchasing

Gorilla trekking permits are the only ticket that you need to get your once-in-a-lifetime experience with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The permit allows you to enter Volcanoes National Park where you get to spend an hour observing the gorillas up close. Here are some of the important details that you need to look at as you get the gorilla trekking permits. Note that gorilla permits have to be booked in advance because there are only 96 permits printed per day and they are always

Booking gorilla permits: The booking and purchase of gorilla permits has to be done in advance and it can easily be done through a tour operator or directly from the Rwanda Development Board.

Tour operator, get the trek dates that you would wish to trek and communicate with the guides about those dates. This is done so that the operators can check for the availability of the permits on the shared dates. After checking, if the permits are available, a message will be sent so that you can pay for the permits. Payments have to be done as soon as possible because the permits are sold at a first come, first serve basis. Note that when you are sending the payments for the permit, you have to inform your bank so that the bank charges are deducted, so that the payment sent is not less than what is expected. The permits will then be purchased on your behalf and a copy sent.

RDB website, For tourists who prefer to purchase the permits on their own, there is an option of purchasing the permits directly from the Rwanda Development Board. The website has been interface-friendly so that all people can easily navigate through it. You need to have your dates and payment ready in case the permits are available.

The cost of the permit: The permit cost in Rwanda is a bit higher than in Uganda, and this is mainly because Rwanda markets itself as a luxury safari destination. A gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda is $1500 for foreign non-residents, $500 for African citizens, $500 for foreign residents and $200 for East African citizens.

The permit cost covers park entrance fees, security, guide and ranger fees, medical for the gorillas and conservation of the mountain gorillas. The gorilla permit cost does not cover accommodation, transport and other personal purchases.

• Requirements for the passport

When purchasing the gorilla trekking permits, you will be asked to provide a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond your stay in the country. A passport is one of the many requirements that are needed to purchase the permits. You will be requested to send a copy of your passport and the passport number, names, country of origin, and passport photo because these details will be needed when printing a permit for you.

• Accommodation

You need to think about the accommodation facility that you are to use when it comes to organising a gorilla safari from Kigali, Rwanda. The accommodation in Volcanoes NP is categorised into three, including budget, mid-range and luxury facilities. The type of facilities that you choose depends on your budget and the amenities provided at the facilities. Note that you need to book accommodation way in advance to make sure that you get the best deals, especially during the dry season when they are in high demand.

Some of the accommodation facilities that can be used during a gorilla trekking safari in Volcanoes National Park include Amikussi Hotel Muzanze, La Palme Hotel, Kinigi Guest House, Hotel Muhabura, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Garden Place Hotel, Gorilla Volcanoes Hotel, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Sabinyo Silverback Lodge, Virunga Lodge, Bisate Lodge, One&Only Gorilla’s Nest and Mountain Gorilla View Lodge among others.

• Organise flights and transport

Flight tickets are personal purchases and you will need to make sure that you get the tickets on time so that you don’t miss out on gorilla trekking from Kigali, Rwanda. Get in touch with the tour operator about transport within the country and the choice made will be arranged for you.

Road transport is the main mode of transport that is used to get to Volcanoes National Park and it will take 2 to 3 hours to drive from Kigali to the national park in a 4x4 safari vehicles are used. An experienced driver guide will make sure that you get to your destination and then back safe and sound.

• Pack right for the safari

Organising a two-day gorilla safari from Kigali, Rwanda includes parking right for it. The list of items that you can bring for your safari and what we recommend include neutral colored trousers and long-sleeved shirts, sweaters, scarves, socks, ponchos, waterproof rain jacket/coat, insect repellent, sunscreen, waterproof backpack, snacks, sunhat, refillable water bottle, walking stick, first aid kit, garden gloves, adjustable gaiters, waterproof and comfortable hiking boots, a camera (extra memory cards, batteries and lenses), toiletries and a pair of binoculars among others.

The gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda

For a successful gorilla trekking experience from Kigali, you need to be fully prepared for anything because you are going into an unfamiliar territory and need to follow all the rules and regulations that need to be followed during the trek. Here is a glimpse of what you can expect from your gorilla trek.

Briefing: The briefing in Volcanoes National Park starts as early as 7:30 am at the park headquarters where you will be meeting with the guides and rangers where you will be given essential information about gorilla trekking, the rules and regulations that have to be followed during the trek and all the safety precautions that have to be followed.

Gorilla group assignment: You will then be divided into groups of 8 and assigned a habituated gorilla family. The limited number is to ensure safety for the gorillas and trekkers and to make sure that the experience is safe and non-disruptive.

Tracking gorillas: After you have been assigned a gorilla family, you will go to the start of the trek trail and proceed with the trek. The trek through Volcanoes is about 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on where the gorilla family you have been allocated is found on the day of the trek. The trek can be physically demanding because of the terrain, which consists of steep slopes, valleys, muddy trails and dense vegetation. During the trek, you will also be able to spot other wildlife species found in the park, and these include monkeys, baboons, chimpanzees and several bird species, among others.

Encountering the gorillas: After locating the gorilla family you have been allocated, you will have an hour with the gorillas to take photographs and observe these giants in their natural habitat. Make sure that you follow all the rules and regulations when you meet the mountain gorillas, especially keeping a distance from the gorillas and ensuring safety for both the primates and the trekkers.

Meeting the mountain gorillas can be an exciting and, at the same time, a fun-filled experience with their large bodies and gentle souls. There will also be the awarding of certificates for all trekkers after the one-hour period is up at the park headquarters.

The gorilla trekking rules and regulations in Rwanda

The different gorilla trek rules and regulations include the following:

• The age limit for gorilla trekking in Rwanda is 15 years.
• All clutter and rubbish are prohibited in the park
• Eating is also prohibited when with the gorillas
• Smoking affects the gorillas and it has been banned
• Keep a distance of 7 meters from the gorillas
• Human waste is disposed of in a hole 30cm deep and covered well
• Follow all the guidelines given by the guides
• Take photos of the gorillas without the flash
• Limit noise making when trekking and with the mountain gorillas.

The best time for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes, Rwanda

Rwanda has an inviting and calm climate which enables tourists to track mountain gorillas throughout the year. However, choosing the best time depends on the two seasons and understanding both can help you choose the best time to go for gorilla tracking.

The dry season: The dry season in Rwanda is from June to September and December to January and these months have the most favourable weather conditions for trekking gorillas with drier trek trails and less rainfall. The vegetation within the park is less dense which makes it easy to trek and spot the mountain gorillas. You should, however, note that this is also a peak season and expect more visitors, which is why you need to book permits in advance.

The wet season: The wet season in Rwanda is from October to November and March to May, and it comes with muddy and slippery trek trails, which require tourists to have sturdy footwear and be extra careful. The lush vegetation during the rainy season makes it hard to spot the gorillas because sometimes a machete is needed to create a gorilla trek path. There are fewer tourists during this period and discounts are offered during the wet season.

NB: Note that the weather in Rwanda is abrupt and changes from time to time, so you should be ready for the rains during the dry season and the sun during the rainy season. Just pack right to enjoy the safari irrelevant of the season.

If you prefer the drier trails and easy trekking conditions, and don’t mind crowds and a budget, aim for the dry season. But if you are looking at having a more intimate gorilla trek in Rwanda with discounts, then the wet season is highly recommended.

Contact Encounter Africa Safaris for more information.